Chromium has a wide range of uses in metals, chemicals, and refractories. It is one of the Nation's most important strategic and critical materials. Chromium use in iron, steel, and nonferrous alloys enhances hardenability and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. The use of chromium to produce stainless steel and nonferrous alloys are two of its more important applications. Other applications are in alloy steel, plating of metals, pigments, leather processing, catalysts, surface treatments, and refractories.
Because the United States has no chromite ore reserves and a limited reserve base, domestic supply has been a concern during every national military emergency since World War I. World chromite resources, mining capacity, and ferrochromium production capacity are concentrated in the Eastern Hemisphere. The National Defense Stockpile contains chromium in various forms including chromite ore, chromium ferroalloys, and chromium metal in recognition of the vulnerability of long supply routes during a military emergency.
Research is conducted by the Federal Government to reduce U.S. vulnerability to potential chromium supply interruption. That research covers both domestic resource utilization and alternative materials identification. Domestic chromium resources include mineral deposits and recyclable materials. The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines evaluate U.S. territory for chromium mineral deposits. The U.S. Bureau of Mines also studies minerals extraction and processing and materials substitution and recycling. Alternative materials research is also conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Aministration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy.
World chromite ore reserves are more than adequate to meet anticipated world demand.
- Table 1.--U.S. salient chromite statistics
- Table 2.--U.S. Government stockpile yearend inventories
- Table 3.--Production, shipments, and stocks of chromium ferroalloys and metal in the United States
- Table 4.--Consumption of chromite and tenor of ore used by primary consumer groups in the U.S.
- Table 5.--U.S. consumption of chromium ferroalloys and metal by end use
- Table 6.--Consumer yearend stocks of chromite, by industry
- Table 7.--Price quotations at year end for chromium materials
- Table 8.--World annual chromite production, by country
- Table 9.--U.S. imports for consumption of chromite ore and ferrochromium